The Conventions are Over: How do the Platforms Compare?

The Conventions are over, and how do the two platforms compare?

Let's see how the Texas GOP compares with the Texas Dems...

COMPARE THE PLATFORMS:

Texas Republicans	Texas Democrats
REPEAL the Voting Rights Act of 1965	ENFORCE the Voting Rights Act of 1965
REPARATIVE THERAPY to “cure” homosexuality	STRONGLY OPPOSE “reparative therapy” for LBBT Texans
Climate change is A CONSPIRACY	Climate change is REAL AND SERIOUS THREAT
DRUG TEST welfare recipients	REDUCE POVERTY and hunger
ABOLISH the Department of Education	Education is BUDGET PRIORITY
OPPOSE a guest worker program	SUPPORT comprehensive immigration reform
DENY a woman’s right to choose, even in cases of rape and incest.	RESPECT women’s autonomy and rights
OPPOSE non-discrimination laws	TAKE ACTION against all forms of discrimination
DEFUND Texas Schools	UNIVERSAL ACCESS to Pre-K and Kindergarten
REJECT the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child	IMPROVE THE HEALTH of Texas Children

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Juneteenth and Gay Pride Events Highlight Freedom and Happiness

From the Left, by James L. Cogar

Yesterday, June 21st, I saw something in Longview I can't remember seeing before. I saw a level of happiness that exceeded any I have ever seen since arriving in East Texas 22 years ago.

As chair of the Gregg County Democratic Party, I attended two events. The first was the Juneteenth Celebration at Broughton Park and then went to Heritage Plaza to see the first Longview Gary Pride celebration. In many ways, both celebrations were similar. Each was a chance for participants to exhibit and display the joy of their culture and opportunity afforded to citizens of the United States to be who they are and share that joy with friends and loved ones. Each event was unique in that only in this country can such celebrations occur.

At Juneteenth, the park was filled with families commemorating the arrival in Texas of the news that

slavery had come to an end in our great state. Music, food, dress and dance were all on display as hundreds participated to mark the historic occasion. A great emancipation had taken place back in 1865, and descendants of those former slaves, both spiritual and actual, gathered to not only remember that day but to mark the progress that has occurred since. They not only used the day to celebrate the righting of a great wrong but to showcase the milestones that has taken place since. The pride and happiness was palatable and much deserved.

Later in the afternoon, I traveled just a few miles to downtown Longview and witnessed much of the same joy as our city hosted its first Gay Pride celebration. Once again, a segment of our society that has been subjected to discrimination and injustice was free to show the city the progress our nation has made and is continuing to make. People were free to express themselves as who they are and showcase their love for their partners. Supported by family and supporters, members of the LBGT community proudly proclaimed that emancipation from fear and ignorance was just around the corner, if not already here.

If you were there at either or both events, I know that you could see in the faces of all participants a sense of freedom that was almost palpable. Next year's Juneteenth and Gay Pride celebrations may not be on the same day, but it is my most fervent hope and prayer that each will be even more successful and joyous than this year's but that will be a tough act to follow.

See also publication in the Longview News Journal, June 22, 2014

Add your name to fight LGBT discrimination: Fight for Equality. 

Texas Democratic Party Offers Messaging Memo

Want to stay up to date on all the latest political news from the Texas Democratic Party?  You can have it sent to your email directly in English and Spanish is available.

Sign up for the Texas Democratic Party daily clips email by sending your name and email to:clips@txdemocrats.org

Sample Memo from May 31, 2014                                                     Download the Messaging Memo in Spanish

Tea Party Tidal Wave Republican Tea Party candidates across the board beat their opponents in the runoff races. The story across Texas isn’t just that Tea Party candidates beat establishment candidates, but now it is more apparent than ever: the Tea Party is the Republican Party. The days of a pragmatic Texas Republican Party are over. These Republican candidates across Texas are far more interested in rhetoric than solutions for Texas families. A battle between the Tea Party and Texas Democrats provides a clear contrast. Our candidates believe in a better Texas; a Texas that’s about real life solutions and not political ideology. That is why we are confident that this November, Texans will entrust Texas Democrats with the future of our state.

Leticia Van de Putte stands with Texas Business Business Leaders are concerned that Tuesday’s results will push the Texas Senate further into Washington-style partisan, do-nothing politics. Business leaders heard the hateful rhetoric that threatens trade with Mexico, our number one trading partner, and the jobs trade supports. Texas - which brought in $280 billion in exports in 2013 - is the top exporting state in the nation, and that 52% of that very trade is with Latin America and Mexico. Texans and business leaders want a lieutenant governor who is practical, not polarizing. Someone who cares about investing in our infrastructure, taking on the tough challenges, and doing our part for the next generation. That leader is Leticia Van de Putte.

Greg Abbott: Political Insider Greg Abbott is just another insider working for other insiders and his own political donors, at the expense of hardworking Texans. Greg Abbott's $20 Billion Bond Deal Scheme: The latest example of Abbott choosing to line the pockets of his political donors at the expense of hardworking Texans. When it came time to approve bonds, Abbott gave the green light to $20 billion in deals while he collected almost $1 million in donations from law firms that made money off that bond work. Cancer Research: While serving on the oversight committee of Texas’ cancer research center, Abbott’s political donors received $42 million in taxpayer funds - much of which with little or no oversight. Payday Lending: Abbott accepted nearly $200,000 in donations from his buddies in the payday lending industry, as he allowed them to continue preying on military families.

Juneteenth Celebration Events: Volunteers Needed

The GCDP will be participating in Longview's Juneteenth festivities. We need volunteers to walk in the parade and some help in manning a booth we are sharing with battleground Texas.

The celebrations take place, Saturday June 21st, starting at 10:00am. The parade will last an hour, and the shifts at the table will be 2 hours.   

We will be able to register people and (hopefully) we will have a practice voting machine so those who are not familiar with it can practice. 

Please confirm how you can help 

by emailing Jim Cogar, JLCOGAR3@aol.com

or by phone at 903 295-4040. 

Let's make this a real turnout and show the county we are here and vibrant. 

Additional information:

Join the

NAACP Facebook Event!

The parade will begin at Ryder Drive and proceed north on MLK to Broughton Park. Line up time is 9:00 am. Each parade entrant will be given a lineup number at the time of registration. Registration is $5.00 and can be picked up from Broughton Recreation Center. To call ahead dial 903-237-1276.

The parade will be immediately followed by the Community Wide Picnic in the Park. It will be hot, but we all will be cool! Just another Community Collaboration. Get ready for those Turkey Legs, Burgers, Fried Catfish, and Snow Cones.

Congratulations to the Dems!

In the recent primary run-off election, Gregg County democratic voters showed up for the races.

Voters had to choose between party regular David Alameel and fringe candidate Kesha Rogers, and in the county where Rogers campaigned, she bested Alameel with 53 percent of nearly 1,100 ballots cast. Rusk and Upshur counties’ results were closer to the statewide winning percentages for Alameel.  

Dr. David Alameel won with 71 percent 

of the vote across Texas. 

Democrat David Alameel believes in the American Dream because he has lived it himself. He came to America when he was just twenty years old leaving behind his large Lebanese Christian family. David pumped gas and worked in the fields to help his family. 

He proudly served in the U.S. Army, then worked his way through college and received a Dental degree from the University of Texas. Later he moved to Dallas and founded a network of dental clinics that grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise. In recent years he sold that business and has become a highly successful investor and an expert in financial markets. 

He is a strong critic of Wall Street and says we must reform current policies "that subsidize big banks and corporations and hurt the middle class."

In the only other Democratic runoff for statewide office, Jim Hogan earned the votes over Richard “Kinky” Friedman in the race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner.  Hogan drew about 54 percent of the vote across Texas. This was similar in Gregg County, but voters in Rusk County gave Hogan an even wider margin of victory.

Jim Cogar, Gregg County Democratic Chair remarked on the voting record for Gregg County.

"Kudos to all those voters who voted in the democratic primary run-off.  But I must admit, we made history!" he said.  "We were the only county in East Texas who had a majority voting for the candidate who runs as a democrat, but wants to impeach the President and has disrespectful graphics on her campaign site."

Cogar concludes that there is work to be done in Gregg County.  "Who says we don't need voter education?" he said.

A Letter from Leticia Van De Putte

A Letter from Leticia Van De Putte:

There’s a woman in Cleburne named Kathy. Every month, Kathy donates $7.50 to my campaign. You might be thinking, “What a specific amount...”

Well, that’s what I thought, too, until I realized: That’s what Kathy can do to support me and keep Texas strong.

I've set a goal to raise $25,000 by midnight on Saturday. Will you join Kathy and pledge to make a monthly donation of $7.50 or more today?





Kathy's $7.50 means the world to me, because I know that’s not just a donation—that’s an investment—in me, and in the future of Texas.

Texans who truly understand the importance of investing their time and their money in this campaign.
Donate $7.50 or more per month, and help us meet our May goal:

www.leticiavandeputte.com/endofmay

I know that your contribution shows your belief in me, my campaign, and our hopes for a better and stronger Texas.

With help from people like you and Kathy, we can win this election.

Muchísimas gracias,

Leticia

Dan Patrick Voted GOP Nominee for Lieutenant Governor

Dan Patrick is the Republican Party's nominee for lieutenant governor. Now that the GOP primary is over, let's get to know the Tea Party hero who wants to lead the Texas Senate.

Check out the top 5 things to know about Dan Patrick -- and pitch in $5 or more to help Leticia Van de Putte defeat him in November.

The last thing Texas needs is a lieutenant governor who's anti-immigrant, anti-women, and anti-education. Dan Patrick doesn't believe climate change is real. He has stated that Hispanic immigrants are bringing "third-world diseases" into Texas. And he says he talks about how to deny women access to health care they need.

Senator Leticia Van de Putte is the polar opposite of Patrick. She'll fight for women's rights, respect all Texans regardless of where they come from, and find pragmatic solutions to our state's problems in education and infrastructure.

We can't let Dan Patrick occupy one of the highest offices in the state of Texas -- and we won't, as long as we have the resources to keep organizing and getting more Texans to vote.

Chip in $5 or more to help Battleground Texas and Leticia Van de Putte get a head start against Dan Patrick:

https://donate.battlegroundtx.com/Defeat-Dan-Patrick